A Northern State University student who was found dead last week in Pennsylvania was strangled after rejecting sexual advances from a sales manager for the company he was interning for, authorities have said.

Jason Shephard, 23, was found bound by belts and wrapped in sheets in the basement of William F. Smithson's home in Thornbury Township, Pa., according to court documents. The Delaware County Times in Pennsylvania also reported that the basement contained a couch, mirrored ceiling and video equipment.

The 40-year-old Smithson, who worked in the Philadelphia office of the Brookings-based Daktronics Inc., was arrested and charged with first-, second- and third-degree murder, attempted rape, abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault, unauthorized administration of an intoxicant and tampering with evidence, a court official said Monday. Shephard, who was interning in Brookings, was in Pennsylvania on a three-day business trip.

According to reports from the Associated Press, Smithson allegedly slipped the date-rape drug GHB into Shephard's drink during dinner Sept. 18 and then the next day reported him missing. Authorities found Shephard's body around 6:30 p.m. Thursday after getting a tip from a former lover of Smithson's.

The Associated Press reported that Smithson confided in the former lover, who works in law enforcement in Virginia. Smithson's former lover said Smithson told him that Shephard rejected his advances "and started to physically fight his advances." The former lover visited Smithson's home and reported seeing what he believed to be a body in a bedroom.

Shephard, who is originally from Cavalier, N.D., was not registered for classes this semester at Northern State. However, Shephard, who ran track and cross country at the university, had planned to return when his internship with Daktronics ended, said Brenda Dreyer, NSU director of university relations. Dreyer said a memorial service is being planned at Northern State University. However, the university is waiting to hear back from the family, who is still in Pennsylvania.

On Monday, Mike Miller, the manager at the Athlete's Foot in Aberdeen, remembered Shephard as someone who always had a smile on his face. Shephard worked at the store for about two years, Miller said. He last saw Shephard two weeks ago, when he stopped by to make sure he could come back to work when he returned to school.

"Without trying to sound like everyone else, Shep was the kind of guy who was worthy of a laugh," Miller said. "If you weren't laughing at him, you were laughing with him. He always had a big, toothy smile on his face."

Miller said Shephard spoke highly of his internship with Daktronics. Before he left, he had talked of becoming a physical education teacher, Miller said. However, after working at Daktronics, he was more interested in the business and marketing side of the industry.

"Things were really starting to click for him," said Miller, who described Shephard as a staunch Republican who liked to talk about his faith. "He left not knowing exactly what he wanted to do, but the doors were starting to open for him. He seemed excited about it."

Mark Steinkamp, a spokesperson for Daktronics, would only confirm that both Shephard and Smithson worked for Daktronics. He said Daktronics would have no further comment.

"There is an ongoing investigation and we're limited in what we can say," Steinkamp said.

The atmosphere was somber on Monday as Miller worked. He said he found out about Shephard's death on Thursday after a phone call from some employees of the store. While much of the talk around the store has centered on Shephard, details of his death have not been discussed, Miller said.

"You can imagine the fear that he went through. That's not how I want to remember him," he said. " ... (Shephard) joked about being a kid from Cavalier going to see what the world had to offer. I don't think that's what he had in mind."

Smithson is being held without bail in the Delaware County, Pa. Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday in Concord, Pa.

It's amazing how liberals use one event to paint with such a broad brush. Real hate crimes against gays are almost non-existant. Of course the gay lobby wants to classify anytime you look at a gay guy wrong as a hate crime.

"Without trying to sound like everyone else, Shep was the kind of guy who was worthy of a laugh," Miller said. "If you weren't laughing at him, you were laughing with him. He always had a big, toothy smile on his face."

What strange remarks to make about a murder victim. Is this supposed to make us laugh off the victim as a stupid idiot? Then we can pretend the minority that murdered him is not guilty of deviant behavior. (like suffocating strong young men held down by straps and poisoned with an illegal drug)

You are so right. We brought up our kids to treat everyone they meet with respect. Lately though, we have been teaching them to show respect but also be diffident until they feel that they really know someone.

Personally, I don't make new friends until I have played a round of golf with them. After 18 holes, I usually know what they are all about.

13
posted on 09/26/2006 7:26:20 AM PDT
by babydoll22
(The facts ma'am, just the facts. I don't give a s**t how you feel.)

That's exactly it. The Matthew Shepard case was horrible, but it was -- probably like this one -- an anomaly. But the media and the liberal establishment turned it into a widespread "cultural problem." Well, will they do the same with this one? Don't bet on it.

17
posted on 09/26/2006 7:35:01 AM PDT
by jwalburg
(It wasn't the Executive that Thomas Jefferson referred to as "the Despotic Branch.")

FWIW I posted it over on the CourtTV Message Board under Current Crimes. CTV is populated both on TV and on the boards by majority lefties, but this is such a horrific crime I was hoping some would take interest.

I thought about a year or two ago on ABC News, that Elizabeth Vargas debunked that whole Matthew Shepard case, and that the people who killed him had known him for a long time and socialized with him and knew for a long time that he was gay and were not bothered by the fact that he was gay, instead they killed him over a property or money issue, and as usual fashion the gay/liberal mafia started attacking Elizabeth Vargas instead of admitting they used Shepard's name to advance their own leftist perverted agenda.

Fred Phelps is a nutbag extremist...but then sometimes you can see why people are driven to extremes. This case should outrage NORMAL people but the perverts in the MSM will never tell anyone about this boy's tragic, horrific death at the hands of someone they lionize.

The 40-year-old Smithson...was arrested and charged with first-, second- and third-degree murder, attempted rape, abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault, unauthorized administration of an intoxicant and tampering with evidence...

Everything but loitering - I'm guessing they're not going to sweep this one under the rug. Just a hunch.

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